<html> <body> Geoffrey, Thanks for the information. I appreciate it. I sent all the info that Stephen asked for (as best I could) but as yet, have not heard back from him. You're the only other one who's replied. I just sent an e-mail to Chris Maene asking those questions and also asking about any kind of maintenance manual. Do you have one for your instrument? I believe I sent an e-mail to him quite some time ago but never heard back. Hopefully, this time he will. Thanks again for your help. Regards, Avery At 05:13 PM 7/1/2004 +1000, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Avery, We have had a Maene fortepiano here at Sydney Conservatorium since 1998. For its first few years it was kept at A 430, which was set from the factory. I understand this to be termed 'classical pitch' ; as distinct from A 440 - modern and A 415 - baroque pitch. After a few changes of teaching staff, I found it was not being used and I tuned it first to 415 ( to be useful to the early music students) and now to 440 ( for the early music students playing on modern pitched instruments). I consulted with Chris Maene before moving it to 440 - he confirmed that there would be no harm to the instrument. After a period of stabilising it's now fine. Historically, I believe 440 pitch is pretty 'unauthentic' for this copy of a Walter from the Vienna of the 1830's. But with only modern instruments ( strings, winds ) available at the moment, it is at least being used. I have an old email contact for Chris: info@maene.be Regards, Geoffrey Pollard Piano Technician Sydney Conservatorium of Music <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Would anyone happen to know for sure if Fortepiano reproductions, specifically a Maene, are designed to be tuned to A-440. Since our new one is app. 1/2 step low, I'm assuming it should be A-415. Thanks for any info. Avery</blockquote></blockquote></body> </html>